JP2001109937A - Energy consumption controller for cup-type automatic saving vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the power consumption of a preheater 3 and a cylinder heater 4, which prevent the drop of a hot water temperature when regular coffee is extracted, when it is conducted as it is in a conventional case, a nozzle heater 6 keeping a nozzle NZ discharging beverage liquid to a cup to a dry state for sanitation, a ventilation fan 2 ventilating in case, dropping humidify in the case and keeping the quality of beverage powder and a bean cooling fan 5 cooling a bean cooling room 20 k keeping coffee beans and keeping the quality of the coffee beans in a cup-type automatic vending machine. SOLUTION: A sensor 01 detecting the temperature in the case is installed. A conduction control means automatically switches the respective loads of the preheater 3, the cylinder heater 4 and the nozzle heater 6 to an off state when a detected temperature in the case exceeds a temperatures which are set for the respective loads. The conduction control means automatically switches the loads of the ventilation fan 2, and the bean cooling fan 5 to the off state when the detected temperature in the case becomes below the temperatures in the case for respective loads which are set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup-type vending machine in which a beverage selected at the time of sale is prepared in a vending machine and poured into a cup for sale. ON / O of energization of loads (referred to as energization control target loads for convenience) such as a brewer cylinder heater, a nozzle heater, a coffee bean cooling fan, and a ventilation fan.
The present invention relates to an energy saving control device for a cup-type vending machine as a device for switching and controlling each FF state to reduce power consumption. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the interior of a cup-type vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a beverage discharge path of the vending machine. First,
The prior art will be described with reference to FIGS. Conventionally, the internal temperature sensor 01 of FIG. 1 is not provided.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a water reservoir for temporarily storing tap water 10 introduced from outside the vending machine;
Reference numeral 12 denotes an ice making machine for making ice from water in the water reservoir 11, and the ice is formed by a cup CP on the bend stage VST shown in FIG.
Then, it is added together with a coffee liquid or a syrup liquid described below and used to make a cold beverage.

[0004] Reference numeral 13 denotes a hot water tank 2 for storing water in the water reservoir 11.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a water pump that sends water to the carbonator 15, etc., 14 denotes a carbon dioxide gas cylinder, and 15 denotes a carbonator that produces carbonated water from water pumped from the water pump 11 and carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 14.

The water from the water pump 13 and the carbonator 15
Is used to make cold beverages, and is poured into the cup CP from the nozzle NZ at the tip of each pipe via each water discharge valve and pipe.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a hot water tank for boiling water sent from the water pump 11 to produce hot water, 22 denotes a coffee bean canister that is placed in a coffee bean cooling chamber 20 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 23 denotes a mill for grinding the coffee beans carried out of the coffee bean canister into powder, and reference numeral 24 denotes a coffee brewer for extracting a regular coffee liquid using the ground coffee beans and hot water taken out of the hot water tank 21.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a canister for storing powders of raw materials such as sugar and milk which are mainly added to coffee drinks according to their types, and 27 denotes sugar, powdered milk and the like carried out of the canister 26, according to the customer's selection. This mixing bowl is previously mixed with hot water from a hot water tank 21 and dissolved to be added to the regular coffee liquid from the brewer 24 and the instant coffee liquid described below.

A single liquid or a mixed liquid of regular coffee, sugar, milk or the like which has exited the mixing bowl 27 is poured into a cup CP from a nozzle NZ at the tip thereof via a pipe exiting the bowl 27, and is directly or otherwise. Together with the instant coffee liquid from the nozzle or the ice which is separately charged, it becomes the final beverage of hot coffee or cold coffee.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a canister for storing powdered raw materials (powder) such as instant coffee and cocoa, and 29 denotes a mixing bowl as a container for mixing and dissolving the raw material powder discharged from the powder canister 28 with hot water from the hot water tank 21. is there. The drink liquid that has flowed out of the mixing bowl 29 is also poured into the cup CP from the nozzle NZ at the tip thereof through separate pipes for the respective bowls 29 as in the case of the mixing bowl 27, and becomes a hot or cold final drink.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a syrup tank for storing the raw syrup of the cold beverage for each type, and 32 denotes a syrup pump for taking out the raw syrup from the corresponding syrup tank 31. The syrup delivered from the syrup pump 32 is poured into the cup CP from the nozzle NZ at the tip thereof through a separate pipe for each pump 32, and at the same time, the water or (and) carbonated water discharged from the nozzle NZ and the inside of the cup CP And the ice from the ice maker 14 is put into the cup CP to be a cold final beverage.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a water tank for storing water cooled by a refrigerator (not shown). A cold drink pipe for feeding raw material syrup from the carbonator 15, the syrup tank 31, and the syrup pump 32 to the cup CP is provided in the water tank 30. It is immersed in cooling water and cooled.

In FIG. 1, the CPM stores the cup CP and carries out the cup at the time of selling the product. The VST stores the cup CP delivered from the cup mechanism CPM, and the nozzle NZ is attached to the cup CP. The bend stage through which the beverage is poured.

In this vending machine, based on the customer's money input and product selection, the selected beverage is dispensed into the cup via the various raw material liquid discharge paths described in FIG. 2 and supplied for sale. .

By the way, this cup-type vending machine uses the following means to maintain the quality of the beverage. That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a beverage powder material stored in the vending machine which discharges air in the vending machine and exchanges air with the outside air to lower the humidity in the vending machine. Fan 5 for preventing the deterioration of the quality of the coffee beans takes in the cooled air near the water surface of the water tank 30 and sends it to the coffee bean cooling chamber 20 to keep the inside of the cooling chamber 20 at a low temperature. It is a bean cooling fan as a fan for preventing quality deterioration of the coffee beans stored in the coffee bean canister 22.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a cylinder heater as a heater attached to the cylinder of the coffee brewer 24 for extracting coffee, which prevents the temperature of hot water entering the cylinder from lowering. Reference numeral 6 denotes a nozzle heater as a heater attached to the nozzle NZ, which always dries the nozzle NZ to maintain its hygiene. Reference numeral 3 denotes a preheater provided as a heater before the hot water discharged from the hot water tank 21 reaches the coffee brewer 24 through the pipe. The preheater 3 increases the temperature of the hot water dropped through the pipe again. Things.

In the conventional vending machine, the ventilation fan 2, preheater 3, cylinder heater 4, beans cooling fan 5, and nozzle heater 6 are always energized. However, only the pre-heater 3 is configured so that the heater capacity can be manually switched in three stages according to the season.

[0017]

However, the above-mentioned 2
The fact that the means 6 to 6 are always energized means that electricity is consumed even when these means are not needed,
That is wasting electricity.

According to the present invention, the necessity of energization of a load to be energized such as the ventilation fan 2, pre-heater 3, cylinder heater 4, bean cooling fan 5, nozzle heater 6 and the like is determined by a vending machine. An object of the present invention is to provide an energy-saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine, which can be determined based on the temperature in the refrigerator, and which can further reduce the power consumption of the load to be controlled.

[0019]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy-saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine, comprising: a means for detecting an internal temperature (an internal temperature sensor 01);
And an energization control target load capable of turning off energization when the temperature exceeds or falls below a predetermined internal temperature (03).
Setting temperature input means (setting means 04) for operation-inputting the predetermined internal temperature as an operation setting temperature, and storage means (05) for storing the operation setting temperature input for each of the energization control target loads. The operation setting that compares the stored operation set temperature of each energization control target load with the detected internal temperature, and detects the energization of each energization control target load based on the detected internal temperature. When the temperature exceeds or falls below the temperature, the power supply control means (02) for switching the power supply of each of the load to be controlled from the ON state to the OFF state is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the energy saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the detected internal temperature is equal to the operation set temperature. When the load exceeds, the load to be energized that can be turned off includes at least one of the preheater (3), the cylinder heater (4), and the nozzle heater (6).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the energy saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine according to the first or second aspect. At least one of the ventilation fan (2) and the bean cooling fan (5) is included in the energization control target load whose energization can be turned off when the temperature falls below the temperature.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy-saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine according to any one of the first to third aspects.
The set temperature input means operates and inputs the ambient temperature of the cup-type vending machine corresponding to the predetermined internal temperature as an operation set temperature instead of the predetermined internal temperature of the load to be energized and controlled. A conversion means (06) for converting the input operation set temperature of the ambient temperature into the corresponding operation set temperature of the internal temperature and providing the converted operation set temperature to the storage means is provided.

That is, in the present invention, as can be seen from FIG. 3 showing the basic configuration of the control circuit, the types of loads 03 to be energized (ventilation fan 2, preheater 3, cylinder heater 4, bean cooling fan 5, nozzle heater 6, etc.) 03 Setting means 04 for each
The operation setting temperature set and stored in the storage means 05 via the storage means 05 is compared with the temperature inside the vending machine detected by the temperature detection means 01 by the power supply control means 02. ON / OF of energization of the load 03 to be controlled
The switching of the F state is controlled to reduce the power consumption.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the inside of a refrigerator of a cup type vending machine as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a beverage discharge path of the vending machine. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, an internal temperature sensor 01 for detecting an internal temperature is provided.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a control circuit according to the first to third aspects of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 01 denotes an inside temperature detecting means as the inside temperature sensor, and reference numeral 03 denotes the above-mentioned load to be energized (ventilation fan 2, preheater 3, cylinder heater 4, beans cooling fan 5, nozzle heater 6, etc.).

Reference numeral 04 denotes a setting means for inputting and setting an operation set temperature for switching the ON / OFF state of the energization for each type of the energization control target load 03. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the operation set temperature is set. As an internal temperature. The setting means 04 comprises a keyboard or the like in a control box on a middle door (not shown) of the cup-type vending machine.

Reference numeral 05 denotes storage means for storing the operation set temperature for each type of the load 03 to be energized and set by operation input by the setting means 04;
The power supply control means for comparing the detected inside temperature with the operation set temperature for each type of the power supply control target load 03 in the storage means 05, and controlling the ON / OFF state of the power supply of each power supply control target load 03. The means 02 and 05 correspond to individual function units in a microcomputer (not shown) in the control box.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the operation of the power supply control means 02. Here, FIG. 4 shows that the energization target control load 03, for example, the ventilation fan 2, is turned on when the inside temperature Tin is equal to or higher than the operation set temperature Tpre (that is, turned off when the inside temperature Tin is lower than the operation set temperature Tpre). The operation when controlling the bean cooling fan 5 and the like will be described.

The ventilation fan 2 is for lowering the humidity in the refrigerator, and the bean cooling fan 5 is for lowering the temperature of the coffee bean cooling room 20 for storing coffee beans. When the temperature is low in winter or the like, the temperature and humidity in the refrigerator become low, so that the operation can be stopped in any case.

In the control of the ventilation fan 2, a humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity in the refrigerator is provided in the refrigerator of the vending machine, and an operation set humidity is set in advance. And when the detected humidity value exceeds the operation set humidity, the ventilation fan 2 may be turned on.

Referring to FIG. 4, the power supply control means 02
In step 4-1, the inside temperature Tin of the cup-type vending machine via the inside temperature detection means (inside temperature sensor) 01.
Is read from the storage means 05 in step 4-2.
The operation set temperature Tpre of each energization target control load 03 to be energized is read.

Next, in step 4-3, the inside temperature Tin and each operation set temperature Tpre are compared. If Tin ≧ Tpre (branch y), the process proceeds to step 4-5, where the current-carrying control load 03 is removed. Turn ON. On the other hand, if Tin <Tpre (step 4-3, branch n), the routine proceeds to step 4-4, where the energized control load 03 is turned off. After the above processing is completed, the process returns to step 4-1 and the above processing is repeated.

The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows that the load control target load 03, for example, a preheater, is turned on when the in-chamber temperature Tin is lower than the operation set temperature Tpre (that is, turned off when the in-chamber temperature Tin exceeds the operation set temperature Tpre). 3, the operation when controlling the cylinder heater 4, the nozzle heater 6, and the like will be described.

Here, the preheater 3 and the cylinder heater 4
Is for keeping the temperature of hot water at the time of making regular coffee high, and the nozzle heater 6 is for drying the nozzle NZ. Therefore, when the inside temperature is high in summer or the like, the power is turned off. be able to.

Since the capacity of the pre-heater 3 can be switched in three stages according to the season, the pre-heater 3 according to the present invention is also composed of three heaters. The operation set temperature Tpr
e is set.

Referring to FIG. 5, the energization control means 02
In step 5-1, the inside temperature Tin of the cup-type vending machine via the inside temperature detection means (inside temperature sensor) 01.
Is read from the storage means 05 in step 5-2.
The operation set temperature Tpre of each energization target control load 03 to be energized is read.

Next, in step 5-3, the inside temperature Tin and each operation set temperature Tpre are compared. If Tin ≦ Tpre (branch y), the process proceeds to step 5-5, where the energized control load 03 is connected. Turn ON. On the other hand, if Tin> Tpre (step 5-3, branch n), the routine proceeds to step 5-4, where the energized control load 03 is turned off. After the above processing is completed, the process returns to step 5-1 and the above processing is repeated.

[Embodiment 2] By the way, for example, in response to a customer's complaint such as "Temperature of regular coffee is weak," even a service person with little specialized knowledge can set operation temperature Tpr of preheater 3, cylinder heater 4, etc.
You may want to change e.

In this case, the setting operation is easier when the operation set temperature Tpre set by the service person is set as a general outside air temperature, that is, the ambient temperature of the cup-type vending machine, than as an internal temperature.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the measured ambient temperature outside the cup-type vending machine (horizontal axis) and the inside temperature of the cup-type vending machine at the mounting position of the inside temperature sensor 01 (vertical axis). It is the graph which did. From such a graph, the relationship between the outside ambient temperature and the inside temperature of the cup-type vending machine can be represented by a mathematical expression. Using the relationship of FIG. 7, the operation set temperature Tpre can be set as the outside air temperature (ambient temperature) of the cup-type vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a control circuit in the invention according to claim 4 (Embodiment 2) in which such setting can be performed. In FIG. 3, a conversion unit 06 is inserted between the setting unit 04 and the storage unit 05 in FIG. The conversion means 06 also corresponds to an individual function unit in the microcomputer in the control box.

This conversion means 06 is used when the operation set temperature input by the setting means 04 is the outside temperature (ambient temperature) of the cup-type vending machine (this means, for example, that the predetermined data for designating the setting mode is used). The operation set temperature inputted by the operation is converted to the operation set temperature Tpre of the internal temperature of the cup-type vending machine using the relationship shown in FIG. Have a role to memorize.

[0043]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the cup-type vending machine is provided with a sensor for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator, and the power is turned off when the temperature in the refrigerator exceeds the operation set temperature. The operation set temperature of the load to be energized, such as a preheater, a cylinder heater, and a nozzle heater, which can be operated, is input in advance and set and stored in the storage means, and each of the load to be energized is set to an internal temperature exceeding the operation set temperature. At the time of detection, O
The operation setting temperature of the load to be energized, such as a ventilation fan or a coffee bean cooling fan, which can be switched to the FF state or the energization can be turned off when the internal temperature falls below the operation setting temperature, is similarly input in advance in advance. The load is set and stored in the storage means, and each of the energization control target loads is automatically switched to the OFF state by the energization control means when the internal temperature lower than the operation set temperature is detected. The power consumption of the electric load of the cup-type vending machine, which has not been neglected, can be easily reduced without any influence.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation input temperature of the load to be controlled is input as the ambient temperature of the cup-type vending machine instead of the internal temperature of the cup-type vending machine. A conversion means is provided for converting the operation set temperature of the ambient temperature inputted by the operation input to the operation set temperature of the corresponding internal temperature and setting and storing the set temperature in the storage means. It is easy to set up even a less knowledgeable service person,
The handleability of the cup-type vending machine can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the inside of a refrigerator of a cup-type vending machine as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a beverage pipe route of the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a control circuit in the invention according to claims 1 to 3;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of an energization control unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another operation of the power supply control means of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a control circuit in the invention according to claim 4;

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of the relationship between the inside temperature of a cup-type vending machine and the ambient temperature of the cup-type vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 01 Internal temperature detecting means (internal temperature sensor) 02 Electricity control means 03 Electricity control target load 04 Setting means 05 Storage means 06 Conversion means 2 Ventilation fan 3 Preheater 4 Cylinder heater 5 Bean cooling fan 6 Nozzle heater 10 Tap water 11 Water reservoir 12 ice machine 13 water pump 14 carbon dioxide gas cylinder 15 carbonator 21 hot and cold water tank 22 coffee bean canister 23 mill 24 coffee brewer 26 canister (sugar, milk) 27 mixing bowl 28 canister (powder) 29 mixing bowl 30 water tank 31 syrup tank 32 syrup pump NZ Nozzle CP Cup CPM Cup mechanism VST Bend stage

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A means for detecting a temperature in a refrigerator, and operating as a set operation temperature the predetermined temperature in the load to be energized, which can be turned off when the temperature exceeds or falls below a predetermined temperature in the refrigerator. Setting temperature input means for inputting, storage means for storing the operation set temperature inputted for this operation for each energization control target load, and the stored operation set temperature for each energization control target load and the detected interior When the detected internal temperature exceeds or falls below the operation set temperature at which the energization of each energization control target load can be turned off, the temperature of each of the energization control target loads is reduced. Turn on the power
An energy-saving control device for a cup-type vending machine, comprising: an energization control means for switching from a state to an OFF state. 2. A power supply control target load capable of turning off power supply when the detected internal temperature exceeds the operation set temperature in the energy saving control device for a cup-type vending machine according to claim 1. An energy-saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine, comprising at least one of a preheater, a cylinder heater, and a nozzle heater. 3. An energization control target load capable of turning off energization when the detected internal temperature falls below the operation set temperature in the energy saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine according to claim 1. And at least a ventilation fan,
An energy-saving control apparatus for a cup-type vending machine, comprising one of a bean cooling fan. 4. The energy saving control device for a cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said set temperature input means is replaced with said predetermined internal temperature of a load to be energized, and The operation temperature is set as the ambient temperature of the cup-type vending machine corresponding to the inside temperature of the vending machine, and the operation temperature of the input ambient temperature is converted into the operation temperature of the corresponding inside temperature. An energy-saving control device for a cup-type vending machine, further comprising a conversion means for providing the data to the storage means.